Village votes to keep noise ordinance as is

OXFORD – A section of the Village of Oxford’s noise ordinance sparked controversy last month after a local business owner was cited by a resident of the downtown commercial district for violating the statute. After a review of the policy, the village board of trustees has decided to leave the ordinance unchanged.

Nate Gross, owner of a guitar studio on South Canal Street, received two appearance tickets in November when a neighbor complained he had violated section 188-2 (3) of village law. This subparagraph of the local noise ordinance prohibits “noise from any sound reproduction system, operating system or any musical instrument ... in such a manner as to be heard 25 feet from its source or property line.”